Aroon Rai Kotchasarn Rd

Phitichit, age 74, and her husband opened the first Aroon Rai about 50 years ago. Her daughters both work with her in the restaurant along with her 69 year old sister. A very simple open-air casual eatery with terrazzo floors and folding metal chairs. Not the place to come for atmosphere but if you're looking for real Chiang Mai tasty cuisine as it is typically served to locals ..this is the place. The hollywood not-so-popular movie "Air America" was indeed filmed in the restaurant and there are still photos and bit of the past for customers to enjoy while awaiting your food.

Menu items such as soups and fried rice begin at 35 baht per dish. Most curries start at 40 baht and the most expensive item is the large size tom yam at 90 baht. Beer starts at 40 baht.

We ordered the favorite foods of locals and tourists alike: sticky rice, fried pork with garlic, a little bowl of naam chim saam rot (sauce with three flavors) to dip both the rice and pork into. The sauce is made fresh. Its spicy and the perfect condiment for both meat and fish. Som tom is some of the best in town. We ordered the fried fish, partially de-boned, which serves two. It's deep-fried, light and crisp with none of that oily residue . My favorite naam prink ong arrived, a spicy tomato and meat sauce served with steamed veggies to dip it out of the bowl. Sticky rice also goes well here, too. The chicken curry is not too mild, not too spicy, and has won rave reviews from locals and tourists alike. Dessert …what else? mango and sticky rice.

• Chiang Mai red curry with pork
• Northern Thai style hors d'oeuvre
• Yellow curry with potato and chicken

Dress: Casual
Set Meals: No
Buffets: No
Vegetarian Dishes: Yes
Use MSG: No
Smoking Section: Yes
Mobile Phones: Yes